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Town to premiere ‘Defining Moments’

The Island Now

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board will show a Town-produced historic documentary entitled “Defining Moments — The Civil Rights Movement in North Hempstead,’ which will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at the Manhasset Bow Tie Theater (430 Plandome Road, Manhasset). The premiere is free and open to the public; however, tickets must be reserved at TICKETS. The event will consist of the film screening as well as a Q&A session with participants of the documentary.

“Many of our North Hempstead residents have powerful stories of courage, confrontation, triumph, and sorrow throughout the Civil Rights Movement that remain largely untold and entirely unpreserved for future generations,” said Bosworth. “This film provides a wonderful opportunity for us to preserve their stories and for the young people of today to hear a first-hand account of how these people stood up against bigotry and changed the world for the better.”

The film is directed by NHTV Studio Director and LIXI Studios President Alan Ginsberg and was funded by a grant from the National Park Service. The documentary highlights the struggle and stories related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th century during the Civil Rights Movement in North Hempstead. North Hempstead was at the epicenter of major triumphs of human rights as well as inequalities during this tumultuous time.

The 40-minute documentary represents nearly two years of research, interviews, filming and editing. In addition to the documentary, individual “oral histories” of more than a dozen North Hempstead residents who had a role in the Civil Rights Movement will be uploaded to mynhtv.com and archived on the Town’s YouTube page.

“On the approaching of Black History month, I am pleased by the diligent work done by the Town of North Hempstead to gather these very personal stories and share them in the spirit of the African tradition of oral storytelling,” said Council Member Russell. “When history can be so easily lost or erased, it has become ingrained in the African diaspora to inspire, empower and educate through the art of story. I am honored to bear witness.”

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